Water Strategy on Target

Nova Scotia's Drinking Water Strategy is one year old and is on track, on target and on budget, says Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash.

"Municipalities, individuals and government have been doing a great job of working together to implement the strategy and ensure Nova Scotians have clean, safe drinking water," said Mr. Morash. The minister is attending the annual meeting of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities and discussed the water strategy in a panel presentation today, Oct. 17.

The Drinking Water Strategy is based on the universally recognized multiple-barrier approach to managing water systems. The multiple-barrier approach calls for a series of safeguards along the water supply route to protect water resources. The three lines of defence are: -- Keep clean water clean - protecting the source. -- Make it safe - treatment to remove impurities. -- Prove it's safe - ongoing water monitoring and testing.

The key elements of the Drinking Water Strategy are to clarify roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders, enhance the multiple-barrier approach to water management and create an inter-departmental drinking water management committee to manage and implement the strategy.

The province has accomplished much since the Drinking Water Strategy was released in Antigonish in October 2002. It has set up a system of regular audits of all municipal water systems. About 1,800 privately owned public water supplies are registered with the department. It has established a stakeholder committee with the Municipal Public Works Association of Nova Scotia to improve information sharing and consultation with municipal government on issues related to water.

A key first-year goal for the strategy is completing assessments of municipal water treatment facilities to verify that systems meet current environmental standards. More than $200,000 has already been provided through Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations to municipalities to help them complete the assessments. Municipalities that haven't yet applied are encouraged to do so before Dec. 31, to ensure they can still meet their assessment deadline.

"Municipal supplies in Nova Scotia are in great shape, but we always need to keep improving our systems. All municipalities have put a great deal of time, effort, and resources into addressing this important issue," said Mr. Morash.

The inter-departmental committee will review and update the strategy as issues are resolved and new issues emerge. The committee will also identify the next steps needed to effectively manage all water resources in Nova Scotia, including availability of water for agriculture and water resource stewardship programs. Three working groups are currently studying nutrient management and water quality protection, source water protection and small water systems.

A copy of the provincial Drinking Water Strategy is available on the Environment and Labour Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/water .